TERRY KOSHAN -- Toronto Sun

Sidney Crosby wants to make one thing clear. He would not consider being a replacement player next season if the NHL lockout remains in place.

That was not as evident in an interview Crosby had with TSN in the past few days.

"I wouldn't be there," Crosby said after Canada's 8-1 victory against Sweden yesterday, referring to an NHL with replacement players.

"I want to play in the best league in the world and the NHL is not the NHL without the NHL players."

On Sunday, Crosby told TSN "I haven't really given it a lot of thought but my dream is to play in the NHL. I think if I do have the opportunity, I would probably go."

Not so, the 17-year-old Crosby said yesterday.

"I didn't understand the question," Crosby said. "I responded by saying I would play and it was just a big mess-up. I am glad it is cleared up."

Where Crosby plays next season if the NHL lockout continues is going to be intriguing. Returning to the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League would do nothing for his development, as he is tearing the league to shreds for a second consecutive season.

Europe could be an option.

For now, Crosby, who leads the Canadian Hockey League with 74 points, isn't going to worry about where he is playing next October.

If the replacement player issue bothered him last night, he was able to shrug it off and score two goals for the second game in a row.

Last year in Finland, Crosby had two goals in six games.

"This is a big tournament and my focus is on this," Crosby said. "You don't want the (replacement talk) to drag on. I am glad it is cleared up now."